Indian minister denies calling Pakistani president

During the attacks by gunmen on Mumbai Pakistani authorities said they put their air force on high alert after their president received a "threatening" late-night call that they say came straight from the Indian government, according to the Associated Press.

The Indian government are calling the allegations a hoax.

But, the Pakistani president's leadership abilities are also in question.

A Los Angeles Times article said a year ago, Asif Ali Zardari "was best known as the corruption-tainted, polo-loving husband of Benazir Bhutto, the charismatic former Pakistani prime minister who appeared poised to make a dramatic return to power."

"Now Zardari, 53, who took over leadership of Bhutto's party after she was assassinated Dec. 27 and became president three months ago, finds himself head of state at a time of extraordinary turmoil, even by Pakistani standards." (Los Angeles Times)

"It's not so easy," Shaukat Qadir told the Los Angeles Times, a political analyst and retired general. "What he has to do is stand up for Pakistan, but let India know he understands we have to coexist."

Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman said a "threatening" call to Zardari on Nov. 28, when the attacks were still under way, definitely came from India's External Affairs Ministry.

India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee denied that Sunday, telling the Associated Press, "I had made no such telephone call."

Pakistan has said it will cooperate with India if authorities prove the attacks came from Pakistani soil. It has denied any of its state agencies were involved, noting it too is a victim of terrorism, and pointed to "non-state actors." (Associated Press)